Windows 10: External HDD won't work: reads as "Unknown" and "Not Initialised"

Discus and support External HDD won't work: reads as "Unknown" and "Not Initialised" in Windows 10 Software and Apps to solve the problem; I got a HDD from an old laptop and decided to try and get into its old files with a POSUGEAR HDD enclosure. But every time I try to initialise it, it... Discussion in 'Windows 10 Software and Apps' started by ZM11, Jan 6, 2025.

  1. ZM11 Win User

    External HDD won't work: reads as "Unknown" and "Not Initialised"


    I got a HDD from an old laptop and decided to try and get into its old files with a POSUGEAR HDD enclosure. But every time I try to initialise it, it just says "Incorrect function". I tried to use DiskPart and rescan the drives but it only worked one time when the storage was showing up but I made the stupid decision of clicking it, which crashed windows explorer and broke it again.Please give useful solutions cause this drive has some important stuff that I hold close to my being.

    :)
     
    ZM11, Jan 6, 2025
    #1
Thema:

External HDD won't work: reads as "Unknown" and "Not Initialised"

Loading...
  1. External HDD won't work: reads as "Unknown" and "Not Initialised" - Similar Threads - External HDD won't

  2. External HDD won't work: reads as "Unknown" and "Not Initialised"

    in Windows 10 Gaming
    External HDD won't work: reads as "Unknown" and "Not Initialised": I got a HDD from an old laptop and decided to try and get into its old files with a POSUGEAR HDD enclosure. But every time I try to initialise it, it just says "Incorrect function". I tried to use DiskPart and rescan the drives but it only worked one time when the storage was...
  3. External Hard Drive Won't Initialise: The Device Is Not Ready

    in Windows 10 Gaming
    External Hard Drive Won't Initialise: The Device Is Not Ready: Hi, I am trying to format a 4TB WD MyPassport on Win11. The drive doesn't appear in This PC, but does appear in the Control Panel's Devices and Printers and in Disk Management. Upon trying to initialise the hard drive, I am shown the message "The device is not ready".I can't...
  4. External Hard Drive Won't Initialise: The Device Is Not Ready

    in Windows 10 Software and Apps
    External Hard Drive Won't Initialise: The Device Is Not Ready: Hi, I am trying to format a 4TB WD MyPassport on Win11. The drive doesn't appear in This PC, but does appear in the Control Panel's Devices and Printers and in Disk Management. Upon trying to initialise the hard drive, I am shown the message "The device is not ready".I can't...
  5. Recover Data on Not Initialised external HDD

    in Windows 10 Drivers and Hardware
    Recover Data on Not Initialised external HDD: I replaced the the PCB on a Toshiba 1TB External HDD as the USB connection dislodged, paying careful attention to the part details: https://www.hddzone.com/mq01ubd100-toshiba-pcb-g3448a-p-3446.html. There is about 300GB of data on the disk and was working perfactley....
  6. Unknown device / external HDD

    in Windows 10 Drivers and Hardware
    Unknown device / external HDD: For each USB HDD I plug I get an added unknown device showing under Volume/volume manager. Seagates and Western Digitals. Properties show drivers not installed. Code 28. Auto search driver yields error. found drivers for your device but encountered an error while...
  7. Disk 1 Unknown Not initialised

    in Windows 10 Drivers and Hardware
    Disk 1 Unknown Not initialised: Hi, I have made a stupid mistake by resetting my windows 10 using the advanced start-up option without any device or disc( just my laptop). Later, I have found that the computer can only recognise my C drive, and when I go to my disk manager, it shows my other drive to be...
  8. HDD "Not Initialised"

    in Windows 10 Drivers and Hardware
    HDD "Not Initialised": About a month or so ago I upgraded my Windows 7 machine to a Windows 10 machine. The only components from my old machine are my sound card and a couple of the HDDs (formerly C: and E:, but which I've been using as D: and E*Smile. This morning I noticed the sound of unusual...
  9. External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised

    in Windows 10 Drivers and Hardware
    External data driven showing system reserved, unknown, not initialised: Hi I am using the seagate 2tb drive to transfer data to a backup using syncToy. The drive has been working normally but this time it took a long time to read ( slow moving green bar in address) It finally became unread by the pc so I attempted to rectify this by using...
  10. USB hard drive Unknown and not initialised

    in Windows 10 Drivers and Hardware
    USB hard drive Unknown and not initialised: Hi I have a 1TB external USB hard drive, it is not showing up in 'my computer' the light on the hard drive is constantly flashing and randomly beeps and clicks when first plugged in, I have never heard this until today.. I have tried it on two laptops, windows 7 and windows...